A day after a federal judge ordered the release of an inmate at the center of a drug case that led to a perjury scandal involving a judge, prosecutor and police, Alexander Aceval walked out of prison a free man.

Aceval, 47, an accused cocaine trafficker from Farmington Hills, was released today because a federal judge vacated his conviction on Monday, saying he was wrongfully tried twice for the same crime.

Family members picked up Aceval from the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson shortly after 2 p.m., and he left with no restrictions, said Russ Marlan, a spokesman with the Michigan Department of Corrections.

According to court documents, his case gained notoriety when it came to light that “the police, prosecutor and trial judge knowingly allowed witnesses to perjure themselves" at his first trial.

Stuart Friedman, Aceval’s attorney, said his client needs to “decompress before he figures out what his next step is,” adding Aceval wants to move on and rebuild his life.

“He’s obviously upset at what happened,” Friedman said.

Aceval spent part of the day going out and buying new clothes and is trying to look toward the future, Friedman said.

“At this moment in time, Mr. Aceval is a free man, but that doesn't preclude a state appeal,” Friedman said.

During his trial, a confidential informant, who set up the bust and stood to receive as much as $100,000, was allowed to lie about his involvement in the case, and police also were allowed to lie about their association with the informant, court documents said.

The prosecutor, Karen Plants, went to the trial judge and, in a secret meeting, told her of the perjury, but the meeting and the perjury were kept from the jury, who were unable to reach a verdict.

“Retrial is barred where the judge or prosecutor knowingly engages in misconduct with the intention of prejudicing the defendant’s chances for acquittal,” U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow said.

He said the prosecutor and judge “conducted a sham trial that tilted the scales of justice strongly in favor of the prosecution.”

It’s unclear if the Michigan Attorney General’s office plans to appeal the case. A spokeswoman for the office was checking on it Tuesday afternoon.

“We are waiting to hear how they decide to proceed,” said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County prosecutor’s office. She said they have not informed the office what they plan to do next and declined further comment.

Several people involved in the case faced charges in connection with their conduct. The judge who oversaw the case, Mary Waterstone, retired and was reprimanded by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission; Plants was convicted of misconduct and disbarred; and two Inkster police officers pleaded guilty to neglect of duty.